Dumfries and Galloway's coastline is more than 200 miles long and is one of the most varied and scenic in Britain. It stretches from the inner Solway, where there are wide expanses of mudflats and merse (saltmarsh), out to the rockier coast of the west with its spectacular cliffs and headlands.

Over winter, huge flocks of migrant birds come to the region's coastline to roost and feed on the merse and mudflats. Spectacular displays of wild geese, ducks and waders can be seen from October to April including barnacle geese, pink-footed geese, wigeon, teal, dunlin and knot. On the far west coast of Galloway is Loch Ryan - a large sea loch that supports marine plants and animals of limited distribution in Scotland. It is also very important for its winter wild birds such as red-throated diver, grebes and scaup.

Nationally rare natterjack toads are found along the inner Solway coastline - their only Scottish location! They are not seen easily but listen for their distinctive call on spring evenings. More readily spotted are coastal butterflies and insects, which may be seen on warm summer days.

Woodland across Dumfries and Galloway is a mixture of different types: semi-natural areas with broadleaved trees; mixed estate woodlands planted around 18th century stately homes; and extensive modern forests of mainly conifer trees

When in broadleaved woods look out for characteristic plants on the woodland floor: primroses, snowdrops, bluebells and wild garlic. Woodland wild flowers blossom in spring when the leaves of the trees have not yet opened fully and light still reaches the plants below.

Summer butterflies, moths and other insects may be seen flying, resting or feeding in woodland clearings where it's sunny. Toadstools may be found in autumn woods. These are the fruiting structures of fungi, the rest of which is underground in the form of fine threads, absorbing food from deep within the soil.

Woods are home to many different types of birds - some are there all year round such as woodpeckers, wood pigeons and buzzards. Others arrive late in spring to nest for the summer including pied flycatchers, tree pipits, redstarts and warblers.
The woods are alive with bird song during spring and summer as territories are established and mates chosen. The region also has birds, which prefer living in conifer forests - siskins and crossbills are both found here and nightjars may also be heard, calling at dusk in areas of young plantation.

Woodland mammals are not seen easily as many are nocturnal. However, look out for red squirrels - a rare animal in Britain but found in many of the region's woodlands.

Good times to visit woods:
Spring for wild flowers and bird song.
Autumn for fungi and all year round for red squirrels.